Darragh Creegan MSc (Hons) MCIWEM
“Having studied Geography at university, the modules that interested me the most were those on climate change, weather and climate and natural hazards. In turn this led me to doing a Masters in climate change which had a focus on hydrology and flood risk. ”
What triggered your interest in flood risk?
Having studied Geography at university, the modules that interested me the most were those on climate change, weather and climate and natural hazards. In turn this led me to doing a Masters in climate change which had a focus on hydrology and flood risk.
What made you want to join Metis?
Before joining I was working in the public sector in local government. I was keen to move into the private sector and the opportunity at Metis seemed to closely match my experience and also what I was looking for.
What do you see as the biggest challenge in your role?
Climate change will bring more frequent, more intense winter rainfall events. This coupled with increased areas of hardstanding in urban areas will result in flooding becoming more commonplace. The challenge is to mitigate this risk.
What are your ambitions for professional development?
My ambition is to obtain Chartered Member (C.WEM) status.
What has been your favourite project to work on so far?
The Seven Kings Water Flood Alleviation Scheme for the London Borough of Redbridge. This gave me the opportunity to identity and appraise potential options to mitigate the risk of combined surface water and fluvial flooding.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
I enjoy going to the gym, cycling, reading, listening to podcasts and seeing new places both in the UK and abroad. Unfortunately, at the moment and for most of my life, I have a real passion for Aston Villa Football Club.
What message would you pass on to students thinking about pursuing a career in flood risk?
Given the expected impacts of climate change I think you can expect a long and varied career with plenty of opportunities to do interesting work. I also recommend experiencing both the public and private sectors as this will give you a rounded view of the different pressures and expectations of both sides.
